Roller assembly-container engagement



Jan. 29, 1963 P. A. MARCHANT 3,075,230 ROLLER .ASSEMBLY-CONTAINERENGAGEMENT Filed NOV. 5, 1959 Y /Oa l 1111/1/11/ /l/l l/l/l/ll/llll/INVENTOR. aa/ /W 6777/ United States Patent 3,075,259 RLLERASSEli/liLY-CNTAENER ENGA'GJEWNT Pani A.. Merchant, Kansas City, Mo.,assigner to Con solidated ''herinoplasics Company, Stamford, Conn., acorporation of Deiaware Filed Nov. S, 1959, Ser. No. SSLiil d Claims.(ill. -571) This invention relates to roll-on applicator dispensersemploying rotating elements to distribute the contents thereof andrefers nio-re particularly to an engagement for attaching roller elementassemblies to container bodies whereby the rotating element and itssocket are removably yet iixedly attachable to the container body with acover or skirt overlying the roller assembly engagement with thecontainer.

An object of the invention is to provide an engagement between a rollerassembly and a container body which provides an exceedingly simple yetpositive and secure engagement or" the assembly with the container body.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an engagement for aroller assembly and container body wherein the container-assemblyconnection is entirely hidden from view and also protected.

Another object of the inv ation is to provide an engage- Inent for aroller assembly and container body which is adaptable to various typesor roller carrying assemblies, including both elliptical and sphericalrollers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combins-.tion engagementfor a roller assembly and a container and top engagement for a containerwhich completely hides and encloses the roller assembly, yet provides asecure engagement of the container top with the container and,additionally, provides a secure engagement for the roller assembly andcontainer body and a complete covering of the engagement.

Another object or" the invention is to provide such roller assembly andcontainer top engagements which may be employed in a tlexible wall, blowmolded container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container having aroller assembly wherein the roller dispensing element may bemanufactured and fabricated entirely separately from the containerproper, a new, novel engagement between die container and rollerassembly being provided which provides a rigid secure engagementtherebetween and permits full employment and use of the roller asse blywith the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universal rollerassembly which may be employed with various size container bodiesprovided only that the container bodies have the requisite cooperativeinventive engagement to receive the roller assembly.

Other and further `objects of the invention will appear in the course ofthe following description thereof.

in the drawings, which form a part of the instant invention and are tobe read in conjunction therewith, an embodiment of the invention isshown and, in the various views, like numerals are employed to indicatelike parts.

PEG. l is a side elevational view of a container embodying the inventivestructure, the container shown in the normal position when not in use, aportion of the container top having been cut .away to better illustrateportions of the construction.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of EG. l in thedirection of the arrows.

3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 oi FIG. 2 in thedirection of the arrows.

4 is a sectional view similar to that of PEG. 3, but with the containertop rernoved and with theA rollers in dispensing position.

FG. 5 is a plan view 4of the inventive container con- ,the top isengaged roller 13 is received in socket lZa, the latter struction withthe container top of the construction cut away of the construction.

Referring to the drawings, therein is shown a container constructionhaving three basic parts. The first part is the container body portiongenerally designated at lo, the -second the container top portiongenerally designated at lll, and the third the roller assembly generallydesignated at l2. These parts will be described in the onder named. Allcontainer parts save the rollers, the latter of glass or like rigidmaterial, may be formed of polyethylene or like material.

Referring iirst, then, to the container body lil in the form shown, ithas a circumferential side wall 10a, an upper unbroken end wall lill;continuously connected to or formed continuous with side wall lila andlower end wall loc (FIG. 3) which has an opening lila preferablycentrally there-ot, to be described. A continuous circumferential groovelila is formed in side wall lila of the container body itl just abovelower end wall 10c. Wall lita is preferably recessed inwardly as at loeto form groove .Wd and an extension liti denes the lower wall of thegroove. The lowerniost portion of wall lila, indicated at ltlg, ispreferably recessed inwardly the width of the roller insert skirt to bedescribed.

Central opening lil/z is preferably, though not necessarily, circular inforni. Opening lllh is deiined by circumferential flange or ring lili,Xed to or formed integral with wall loc and having groove ltlj formedcentrally of the inner face thereof. Alternatively (and not shown), aninwardly-extending ridge or raised portion may be formed on the liangeitil' irn the engagement between the roller element and opening Milt isdesired to be reversed. The thickness of iange itil' is preferablygreater than the thickness of wall lila whereby to provide greaterrigidity for the engagement to be described. Additionally, the outerperipheral portion of lower end wall lliic is preferably thickened as atldlc' for greater rigidity.

The container top ll is congruent in transverse section to thetransverse section of container body lll and must be of suicient depthto receive the roller assembly when with the container body. Means forengaging container body lo above wall idc are provided and comprise, inthe instance shown, bead lila formed circuinierentially inwardly ofperipheral wall lid of top il.. Bead lia engages groove ldd to form acircumferential sealing lit of the top of the container. Fixed to theinner side of lower end wall lib of top ll are iiange extensions llcadapted to contact the roller element when the top is in positiveengagement with the container body and force the roller element oranother roller in contact therewith into sealing relationship with itssocket seat. it should be noted that the groove-bead engagement ofgroove ldd and head lla may be reversed (if desired) with the bead onthe container and the groove in the top. However, it is preferred thatthe wall of the container be in line with the wall of the top when inengagement and this is most easily achieved in the construction shown.

The roller assembly shown employs combined elliptical and sphericalrollers in combination wherein the elliptical lower roller provideslarge area dispensing, with the opper spherical roller` providing aproper seal when the top is on to avoid undesired passage or" liquidfrom the container body proper. This combination or structure is welladapted to use in the instant invention, but is not required. Either asingle elliptical or a single spherical roller member may be employed,the structure of the engagement and skirt of the roller insert being theinventive structure, rather than the form of the rollers themselves.

Referring particularly to the roller assembly, elliptical preferablyremoved and a portion to better illustrate portions but optionallyprovided with circumferential sealing ridge or bead 12b. Sphericalroller 14 is received in a recessed socket defined by upwardlyextendingflange 12C, the latter having inwardly-extending upper edges 12d whichtaper interiorly to define upper opening or seat 12e. Depending upon theengagement desired, either a ridge 1Zf (shown) or groove (not shown) isprovided to engage an opposite means on flange 1th'. Socket 12asurrounds and engages a sufficient portion ofroller 13 so as to maintainit within the socket. Skirt 12g is preferably fixed to the lowerrnostperiphery of socket 12a and is so formed and of such length as to bereceived in recess or groove ltlg of the container body lil.

Reference may be made to FIGS. 2 and 4 to ascertain that the engagementof the roller assembly with the top of the container is solely andprimarily, as far as rigid fixing and positioning goes, eifected by thecentral engagement of flange 12C with liange lili. Thus this connectionmust be of suiiicient rigidity and tenacity to retain position of theroller assembly on the container proper in normal operation of thecontainer in dispensing liquid therefrom. Skirt 12g serves to keepforeign matter out of the container body 1i? and out of the spacebetween the roller insert and the container and, additionally, improvesthe appearance thereof. Additionally, some protection is provided to thecentral engagement by the skirt, (depending 1upon the strength andrigidity thereof) against lateral forces applied. Additionally, skirt12g in its abutment on iiange 101 aids in resisting further insertion offiange 12C into the opening 1G11 under excessive upward pressure.

In operation of the device, the container, in inverted position fromFiG. l, is filled with the liquid to be dispensed. Then the rollerassembly is snapped vertically downwardly into place so that bead orridge 121 lits into slot or groove 16j circumferentially. Skirt 12g aidsin such positioning by sliding over enlarged portion ltic' and fittinginto groove or recess 16g. When top 11 is tted over the roller assemblyand container so that bead 11a fits into groove 19d, means 11e abutroller surface 13, forcing spherical roller 14 into abutment with seat12e, thus preventing infiux of liquid into the space surrounding therollers and the socket 12a. Removal of the top permits the movement ofthe rollers into the position of FIG. 4 and permits the motion of liquidinto socket 12a to be transferred from the roller by rotation thereof.

The iitment referred to herein includes the sockets for rollers 13 and14, and the skirt 12g.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to. beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense;

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination in a roller dispensing container, a container bodylwall enclosing a volume of space and having a first opening therein, Vafirst socket for a first roller element having a second opening therein,said first socket formed so as to tit into said first opening with thesecond opening therein communicating with the interior of the containerbody, first connecting means connecting said first socket in said firstopening, a second roller element socket circumferentially connected tothe first socket and communicating therewith by a third opening, saidsecond socket being of greater dimension than said first socket wherebyto overle and surround said first opening and first socket, acircumferential groove formed in the container body peripherally to saidfirst opening, a depending skirt having one end thereofcircumferentially fixed to the said second socket and the other endthereof circumferentially fitting into said container body groove; afirst roller element substantially spherical in form in said firstsocket of such size as to be able to close the second opening thereinand a second roller element substantially elliptical in cross sectionalong one axis of ro tation and substantially spherical in cross sectionnormal thereto in said second socket, said axis of rotation being.greater in length than the diameter of the first roller.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim l including a container top, and meanscooperating between the container top and container body for engagingthe container top on said body in such manner as to enclose said socketsand skirt, said last means comprising a bead and groove between thecontainer top and the container body wall, the bead and grooveattachment of the top and container wall adjacent to but peripheral tothe skirt receiving groove.

3. In combination in a roller dispensing container, a container bodyenclosing a volume of space and having a normally vertical continuousside wall and normally horizontal end Walls connected to said side wall,a first one of said end walls having a first opening therein whichcommunicates with said container body enclosed volume, a first socketfor a first relatively smaller roller element, said first socket havinga second opening therein and formed so as to fit into said first openingwith said second opening communicating with the interior of saidcontainer body, first connecting means connecting said first socket insaid first opening, a second roller element socket of greater dimensionthan said rst socket circumferentially iixed to and surrounding saidfirst socket and communieating therewith by a third opening whereby tooverlie said second opening in said first socket and surround same, acircumferential shelf formed in said first end wall at its connectionwith said side wall, and a depending skirt having one end thereofcircumferentially fixed to said second socket and the other end thereofcircumfcrentially fitting into said container body shelf; a first rollerelement substantially spherical in form in said first socket of Suchsize as to be able to close the second opening therein and a secondroller element substantially elliptical in cross section along one axisof rotation and substantially spherical in cross section normal theretoin said second socket, said axis of rotation being greater in lengththan the diameter of the first roller.

4. Apparatus as 'recited in claim 3 including a container top, and meanscooperating between the container top and container body for engagingthe top on said body inv such manner as to enclose sm'd sockets andskirt, said last means comprising a bead and groove between thecontainer top and the container body wall, the bead and grooveengagement Vof the top and container body wall adjacent to butperipheral to the skirt receiving groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS538,492 Askew Apr. 3G, 1895 678,203V Searles et al July 9, 19012,021,653 Iohnson Nov. 19, 1935 `2,700,784- De Brock Feb. 1, 19552,749,566 Thomas June 12, 1956 2,823,403 Whitney Feb. 18, 1958 2,892,202Williams June 30, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 63,155 Y France Mar. 16, 1955(First addition to No. 1,047,340)

329,628 France June 5, 1903 513,098 Germany Nov. 21, 19,30 530,283 ItalyJuly 6, 1955

1. IN COMBINATION IN A ROLLER DISPENSING CONTAINER, A CONTAINER BODYWALL ENCLOSING A VOLUME OF SPACE AND HAVING A FIRST OPENING THEREIN, AFIRST SOCKET FOR A FIRST ROLLER ELEMENT HAVING A SECOND OPENING THEREIN,SAID FIRST SOCKET FORMED SO AS TO FIT INTO SAID FIRST OPENING WITH THESECOND OPENING THEREIN COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE CONTAINERBODY, FIRST CONNECTING MEANS CONNECTING SAID FIRST SOCKET IN SAID FIRSTOPENING, A SECOND ROLLER ELEMENT SOCKET CIRCUMFERENTIALLY CONNECTED TOTHE FIRST SOCKET AND COMMUNICATING THEREWITH BY A THIRD OPENING, SAIDSECOND SOCKET BEING OF GREATER DIMENSION THAN SAID FIRST SOCKET WHEREBYTO OVERLIE AND SURROUND SAID FIRST OPENING AND FIRST SOCKET, ACIRCUMFERENTIAL GROOVE FORMED IN THE CONTAINER BODY PERIPHERALLY TO SAIDFIRST OPENING, A DEPENDING SKIRT HAVING ONE END THEREOFCIRCUMFERENTIALLY FIXED TO THE SAID SECOND SOCKET AND THE OTHER ENDTHEREOF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY FITTING INTO SAID CONTAINER BODY GROOVE; AFIRST ROLLER ELEMENT SUBSTANTIALLY SPHERICAL IN FORM IN SAID FIRSTSOCKET OF SUCH SIZE AS TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE THE SECOND OPENING THEREINAND A SECOND ROLLER ELEMENT SUBSTANTIALLY ELLIPTICAL IN CROSS SECTIONALONG ONE AXIS OF ROTATION AND SUBSTANTIALLY SPHERICAL IN CROSS SECTIONNORMAL THERETO IN SAID SECOND SOCKET, SAID AXIS OF ROTATION BEINGGREATER IN LENGTH THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE FIRST ROLLER.